Tar Wars

If you could stop one child from smoking, would you do it? How about thousands of children? 

By supporting the Tar Wars program, you can help discourage children from smoking at a young age. Each day 3,500 children under the age of 18 try their first cigarette and 1,000 more become regular smokers. 

Founded in 1988, the Tar Wars program is presented annually to over 500,000 fourth and fifth-grade students by health care professionals and educators. Each presentation focuses on the short-term, image-based consequences of tobacco use. It also teaches students in both the United States and the world how to think critically about tobacco advertising. 

In addition to a presentation, students are invited to participate in a poster contest. The contest reinforces the Tar Wars lesson and emphasizes the positive effects of being tobacco-free through original poster designs. The best design is selected from each state and winners are eligible to attend the annual Tar Wars National Conference held each summer.  The winner of the 2011 Poster Contest is Alana McGuinness from Rhode Island with her poster "Reflect A Positive Image." 

In 2011, a new video contest was added.  Congratulations to the 2011 Tar Wars video contest winner, Blaire McCarthy from St. Petersburg, Florida!  Blaire's video, "Are You a Tar Performer or a Top Performer?" was featured at the 2011 Tar Wars National Conference in Washington, DC, July 12. 

Statistics on Children and Tobacco Use:

• More than 4.5 million children under the age of 18 are regular smokers.
• 15.5 million children are exposed to second-hand smoke in their homes.
• Approximately 90 percent of all tobacco users started at or before the age of 18.
• One-fifth of our children are current smokers by the time they leave high school.
• Children are twice as likely as adults to recall tobacco advertising.
• More than five million children living today will die prematurely from smoking-related illnesses.